5. I shall return, and make a short stay with the Birds, those Martial ones, I mean, and Birds of Prey. In which the Philosopher has observed shortness of Neck as fittest for strength; and that none of the γαμψώνυχα, or Birds with crooked claws, have long Necks, or plain and straight Beaks, but crooked, and that all carnivorous Birds that are forced to hunt for their prey, are such.De part. Animal. l. 4. c. 12. γαμψὸν δὲ τὸ ὠμοφάγον. Χρήσιμον γὰρ πρὸς τὸ κρατεῖν τὸ τοιοῦτον, τὴν δὲ τροφὴν ἀναγκαῖον απὸ ζῴων πορίζεαθαι. And therefore their crooked Talons are fit to hold fast the live prey that otherwise would wriggle from them, and their crooked Beaks to tear their tough flesh, (as it were with a sharp hook) that with a plain Beak would not so easily be riven in pieces. But the Bills of Geese and Ducks are quite of another form, but fit for rooting in the ground or mud, or shearing of herbs and grass, and such easie manner of feeding.
That also is ingeniously observed of Aristotle concerning the γαμψώνυχα, that their Bodies are but small in comparison of their Wings, their greatest succour lying in them if they were assaulted: But that more heavy Birds are otherwise provided for defence, namely either by Spurs that grow on their Legs, or by the strength and sharpness of some single cley in their Foot; as I have observed in the Cassoware or Emeu. But he gives it for a Maxime, That the same Birds are never γαμψώνυχα and πληκτροφόρα, never have crooked claws and spurs together. For the Armature of Spurs is fit onely for such Birds as fight on the ground; but the crook-claw'd Birds are scarce well provided to tread upon it. And therefore none of the heavy-bodied Fowl have crooked Talons.
But the greatest observable in Nature concerning these Birds of Prey is the strangeness of their Sight. For by a peculiar frame of their Eye they are inabled to spy their booty from aloft in the Aire, and see best at that distance, scarce see at all near at hand. So they are both the Archer and Shaft; taking aim afar off, and then shooting themselves directly upon the desired Mark, they seise upon the prey having hit it. The works of Providence are infinite: I will close all with the description of that strange Bird of Paradise, for the strangeness has made it notorious.
6. There is a Bird that falls down out of the Aire dead, and is found sometimes in the Molucco Islands, that has no Feet at all. The bigness of her Body and Bill, as likewise the form of them, is much what as a Swallow's; but the spreading out of her Wings and Tail has no less compass then an Eagle's, She lives and breeds in the Aire, comes not near the Earth but for her burial, for the largeness and lightness of her Wings and Tail sustain her without lassitude. And the laying of her Eggs and brooding of her young is upon the back of the Male, which is made hollow, as also the breast of the Female, for the more easie incubation. Also two strings like two Shoe-makers ends come from the hinder parts of the Male, wherewith it is conceived that he is fastned closer to the Female while she hatches her Egges on the hollow of his back. The dew of Heaven is appointed her for food, her Region being too far removed from the approach of Flies and such like Insects.
This is the entire story and Philosophy of this miraculous Bird in Cardan, who professes himself to have seen it no less then thrice, and to have
